A Facebook poll on a fantasy casting for fantasy epic “The Lord of the Rings” raised some eyebrows.

At least $251 million or P12 billion is needed to franchise the classic.

MANILA, Philippines (Updated April 4, 9:11 a.m.) — ABS-CBN seems to be delegating casting decisions to social media in conducting informal polls on a supposed Filipino remake of “The Lord of the Rings” franchise.

Last week, the Kapamilya network polled Facebook users on actors and actresses they think would be best to play the main characters in JRR Tolkien’s classic trilogy — Lady Galadriel, Arwen Undómiel, Legolas Greenleaf and Frodo Baggins — if a remake were in the works.

ABS-CBN, however, has yet to formally announce if there is any serious pursuit to produce a Filipino version of the epic. The polling came ahead of the network’s Holy Week Filipino-dubbed television broadcast of Peter Jackson’s acclaimed trilogy.

Graphics of a Facebook poll by ABS-CBN. (ABS-CBN Entertainment)

While many chose their picks, not everyone welcomed the idea. Fans questioned the television giant’s ability to equal the award-winning production.

It is likely, however, that the polls were just exploratory. Last March 28, the Kapamilya network released a similar Facebook poll asking if Yassi Pressman, Erich Gonzales, Liza Soberano or Jodi Sta. Maria would play the Virgin Mary for Lenten show.

Despite garnering many responses, ABS-CBN did not release any Lenten special for the Holy Week.

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Editor’s Note: Story has been updated to make clearer that the polling done on Facebook was hypothetical.